PNU, Uhuru party set to seal coalition deal

The Party of National Unity and The National Alliance on Thursday made the first step to formalising a coalition.

This will ensure that PNU aspirants take part in TNA nominations for next year’s General Election.

A draft coalition agreement leaked to the Nation shows that PNU will be required not to nominate candidates in the elections for all the seats.

The agreement, once signed, will also require PNU aspirants who wish to take part in the election to register as TNA members by October 17.

“The National Alliance nominations exercise conducted shall fully incorporate candidates who would have otherwise sought candidature under the banner of the Party of National Unity,” says the draft agreement.

The draft agreement has been drawn up just days after the PNU leadership said that its aspirants will participate in the TNA nominations.

On Thursday, PNU organising secretary Maina Kamanda told the Nation that the party’s national executive committee would meet on Monday to discuss the agreement before the two parties sign it, possibly next week.

According to TNA chairman Johnson Sakaja, unity among outfits that support the party’s presidential hopeful, Mr Uhuru Kenyatta, is vital to achieve a decisive win in the elections.

“We are committed to working together with mutual respect and for the benefit of Kenyans. At such a time where unity is paramount to us all, we as a party commit ourselves to all efforts that will bring Kenyans together and are ready to work with all parties that believe in a transformative agenda that puts the people’s interests first,” said Mr Sakaja.

According to the agreement, PNU will remain a distinct party from TNA as it will be allowed to share in the Political Parties Fund depending on the number of its candidates who will be nominated and win the elections.

Disputes between the two outfits will be handled by the Political Parties Disputes Tribunal.